Eight individuals are useless after an Air Drive B-52 Stratofortress bomber on a “routine check mission” crashed shortly after takeoff and burst into flames at Edwards Air Drive Base in California on Monday, the bottom mentioned.
The crash was deemed unsurvivable based mostly on a evaluation of footage, in line with Col. James Hayes, deputy commander for the 412th Check Wing on the base, calling it a “horrible tragedy.”
“We misplaced eight nice People,” he mentioned throughout a press briefing Monday.
Obtained by ABC Information – PHOTO: A nonetheless from a video displaying the aftermath of a crash involving a B-52 Stratofortress bomber at Edwards Air Drive Base in California, June 15, 2026.
The crew was a mixture of uniformed navy, authorities civilians and authorities contractors, Hayes mentioned. The names of these on board might be launched 24 hours following next-of-kin notification.
The incident was reported at about 11:20 a.m. native time.
KABC – PHOTO: An Air Drive B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Drive Base in California, June 15, 2026.
“Emergency response personnel are on scene, and officers are working to account for all personnel,” the bottom mentioned.
The reason for the crash stays beneath investigation, a course of that can possible take a number of months, in line with Hayes.
KABC – PHOTO: An Air Drive B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Drive Base in California, June 15, 2026.
Skydiving aircraft crashes in Missouri, 11 passengers and pilot killed
Check missions happen a number of occasions a day on the base, Hayes mentioned.
The bottom has closed the airfield and mentioned all inbound planes are being diverted. Will probably be standing down all operations on Tuesday, Hayes mentioned.
Chase Kohler/USAF, FILES – PHOTO: B-52H Departs Edwards Air Drive Base
The Air Drive and NASA conduct check flights of recent and developmental plane at Edwards Air Drive Base.
The B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range bomber first launched within the Fifties that is still a central a part of the U.S. navy’s air energy. Constructed by Boeing, the plane is able to carrying each typical and nuclear weapons over lengthy distances and has been utilized in conflicts starting from Vietnam to operations within the Iran conflict.